What is radon?
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas without odor or color, formed by the decay of radium in the Earth’s crust and seeping to the surface. Outdoors, it quickly disperses into the upper layers of the atmosphere, while indoors it can accumulate and reach very high concentrations that are carcinogenic. It is estimated that every tenth case of lung cancer is caused by radon or its decay products.
Why is radon dangerous?
Radon is radioactive (carcinogenic), but by itself it does not pose a major danger to humans. We inhale it together with the air, but as a gas we also exhale it again. The situation is different with its short-lived decay products, which are always present in the air together with radon. As aerosols, they are filtered out by the lungs from the inhaled air. Once deposited on the walls of the respiratory tract, they decay, and the resulting alpha particles attack and damage the surrounding tissue. These damages can be so severe that they lead to the development of cancer.
How does radon enter my home?
For most of the year, the air pressure inside a house is lower than in the surrounding soil around the foundation. This difference in air pressure draws air from the ground, including radon, into your home. It can enter the house anywhere there is a crack or opening in the foundation slab or in the buried walls.
Recommended values
The WHO recommends a reference level of 100 Bq/m³. The unit Bq/m³ indicates how many radioactive decays of radon atoms and their progeny occur every second in each cubic meter of air.
Recommended acceptable radon concentrations in the air are based on the risk from lifetime exposure. If you do not spend much time in rooms where radon concentrations are exceeded, there is no cause for concern.
The radon concentration in your home is determined based on measurements, which you can carry out yourself.
Typical entry points
A. Cracks in the foundation slab and walls
B. Various shafts
C. Sumps, floor drains
D. Defects at the junction of the foundation slab with walls
E. Porous bricks in buried walls and gaps between them
F. Openings around foundation slab penetrations for utility pipes
G. Chimney
H. Water pipes, radon enters with water
Areas with higher radon levels
In Europe, countries such as the Czech Republic, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, France, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Norway, Italy, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, and Portugal are generally considered to have higher indoor radon levels due to their underlying geology. However, this does not mean that other countries are entirely free from risk. Local areas within countries usually considered low-risk can also experience elevated radon concentrations. Therefore, radon measurement is recommended across all European countries to ensure safety.
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